Animal-trap



0.1;. MEREDITH.

ANIMAL TRAP.

` APPLICATION EILED NOV. 28|'19l9.

' Patented NQv. 23, 1920.l

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oscAn I e. 'ivi-Enitnia?,v or

Ens'rfsosHE-iv Towivsnrr, eHEsTnR coNTY, rnNNsYL- 'VAN-IA, .essrelvonY or own-HALF To HARRY n. TAYLOR, onwnsr CHESTER,

rnNN'sYLvANIA.

T0 all wko/mit may concern citi/Xen of the United 'Sta-tes, residii'ig at adapted to hold said jaws in set position,

means for supporting said jaws and trigger Vat the place ofservice, and movable pressure members adapted to close' s'aid jawsA when said trigger -is released, and to hold the same tightly when sprung with vtheaniinal caught i i The triggerY 4 lis o1 therebetween, the; device being of a simple, inexpensive-and practical nature, as will be hereinafter set forth, the novel features thereof being pointed out inthe claims.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it isto be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described, as long Aas they are within the spirit or scope of the claims; Y Figure l represents a perspective view of a trap in set condition embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 representsa side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3y represents Va side elevation of the trap in sprung condition. f

Fig. 4 represents a partial section and partial side elevation of portions of the jaws in condition when an animal is caught therebetween.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings:

l designates a pair of jaws which are substantially of U-shape connected freely at` their ends by the pivots 2, which latter are mounted on the heads of the spikes or naillike members 3, the latter being adapted to be driven into or otherwise secured to a tree,stump, rail or other place of attachment'of the trap, it being noticed that onel jaw is of less diameter than the other jaw, whereby when the jaws are closing one aw is adapted to enter the otherjaw, as most plainly shown in Fig. 4, or to be concentric when fully closed, as shown in Fig. 3.

On the'shanks of the spikes 3 are the coil springs 5 which insetting the trap rest etc'. or otherwise securedl thereto,

"aNiMALfTRAR Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NGV; 23, T920. applicati@ inea november '28, iena. 'serial No. 341,225. j

against the tree,` etc., and vthe pivotal portions of the jaws in contractedcondition, so as to bear against said portions exerting pressure 'on the latter vvreac'ly to spring' the'ltrapy to close the jaws, as shown in Figs. l fand y2,

' this 'being'jccasioned' when the trigger -4 is operated as vwill `be hereinafter described, but when'thetrap is sprung said springs are adapted to exp'andandride forward and embrace the pivotal portions'l'ofthe jaws and exert pressure thereon so as to` :bring the jawstogether and close themfas shown in Fig. 3, whenY as an animalis trapped the jaws arev prevented from' opening and permitting it to escape. i

c angular form and is mounted by a suitable pivot mounted in an openingin a spike or nailelike member 6 which is adapted to be driven -linto the tree, it having one end or 'limb provided ,with a nose which is adapted to overlap andV engage with the crown of the inner jaw l when the trap is set and hold the jaws in their' set po-v sition and so control the same, its other or limb end 8 being adapted to provide a bait holder, the latter depending back of said jaw and being free of access through the latter, as shown in Fig. 2.

-lVhen the .animal seizes the bait and Vdraws it outwardly the trigger is operated whereby the nose7 is raised and moved rearwardly clear of the crown of the aw. Then as the latter' is released of the trigger, the

springs pressing against the same become' operative and so bring the jaws quickly and forcibly together to closed position catching the animal between them, said springs then embracing' the pivotal ends' of both jaws so,l

keeping the jaws closed and so holding the animal caught until the jaws are reopened, or the trap 1s reset.

In order to prevent the animal from work-- ing itselfl looseor slipping from between y the latter has its opposite edges the jaws 7 teeth, the effectv serratedas at 9 forming of.which 1s evident.

To set the trap, the springs are pushed back over the pivotal ends of the jaws and over the spikes 3, and the .inner jaw is raised and engaged by the trigger, thus holding said'jaw in position to be released by the operation of the trigger while the springs exert their 'pressure against the pivotal porride forward so as to embrace the pivotaly portions of both aws and so prevent the latter from being opened by movements of the animal.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z- 1. ln an animal trap of the character stated, a pair of jaws, a trigger and a bait holder, supports for said jaws and trigger and bait holder, on a place of service of the trap, and a slidable'pressure device which is o mounted freely on the support or" saidjaws intermediate of said place and the pivotal ends of said aws and compressible between said jaws and said place of service and adapted when the trap is set to bear in contracted condition against said ends, said device being adapted when the trapV is sprung to expand and close said jaws and to ride'over said pivotal ends and embrace the latter, thus holding the jaws tightly in closed condition. A

2. An animal trap consisting of a paii' of jaws, a pivot therefor, a trigger and bait holder, said trigger being adapted to engage either jaw, supports for said jaws and trig-.

ger and bait holder at a place of service, and a slidable pressure device which is mounted freely on thel support of said jaws jaws, and a pin-like device adapted to be connected with a place ofattachment of the trap and form the bearings for said pivotal connection and means on'which said pres-Y sure means is slidable, said pressure means being compressible between thejaws and the support of the trap.

4. In an animal trap of the character stated, a pair of jaws, a pivotal connection for saidjjaws, pressure means for closing said jaws, a trigger. adapted to engage the innermost one of said jaws and to be released thereirom, and a pin-like device adapted to be connected witha place of attachment of the trap and form the bearing for said pivotal connection, said pressure means being compressible between the placeV of attachment and said inner jaw when the latter is in its open position. Y

OSCAR G. MEREDITI-l. Y Witnesses: y

MARY H. DAVIS, NoRRis S. INGRAM. 

